Three Principles of the Theoretical Foundations of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Autopoiesis, Becoming and Autokinetics. Currently, sociology focuses on the issue of social dynamics. Various theories and methodologies of social dynamics developing within the paradigm of complexity are usually based upon one of the three basic principles: autopoiesis, becoming and autokinetics (autodynamics). These can be considered the basic principles with respect to the origin, functioning, and development of nonlinear dynamical systems in different areas. All three principles are therefore further developed and applied both on the general level of science and on the level of individual scientific disciplines, in this case sociology. In addition, these principles are applied in the research of social dynamics.
The study presents basic knowledge of scientific concepts, namely autopoiesis (Maturana – Varela), becoming (Prigogine) and autokinetics (Černík). At the same time, the author pays attention to their sociological versions (autopoiesis – Luhmann; becoming – Sztompka; autokinetics – Hirner). The text is a comparative analysis of both the vertical (coherence of general and sociological versions, possible modifications and innovations) and horizontal dimension (comparison of strenghts and weaknessess of individual concepts). Despite partial modifications, the analysis has shown substantial coherence between the general and the sociological versions of autopoiesis, becoming and autokinetics. Since sociological versions of autopoiesis and becoming suffer from serious conceptual restrictions (in the first case mainly from holism, in the second case from a type of hypostazing of the so-called third level of reality), autokinetics seems to be the optimal concept for the research of the dynamics of social systems. Nevertheless, this concept also requires further elaboration.
Sociológia 2011, Vol. 43 (No. 5: 463-494)

social stratification; social class; EGP class scheme; International Socio-Economic Index of Occupations (ISEI); subjective placement in the stratification system of society

On some Questions of Social Stratification in Slovak Society. The present study deals with the following groups of questions regarding changes in the social stratification system in Slovak society: 1.How has the social stratification system changed? Which of the classes has more members and which of them less? How do they differ? How has the relationship between gender and social status changed? 2. Do class members differ in their values, attitudes, needs, beliefs and lifestyles? Are these classes potential social classes with specific characteristics and features, making possible to create a class identity? The analysis is based on the results of social stratification research in Slovakia in 1993 – 2010. The theoretical basis was the Goldthorpe EGP class scheme. The first group of questions can be answered as follows: during the last twenty years the vertical social order has changed. The highest level – the level of service class, which includes higher-grade professionals and managers – was joined with the category of economically independent individuals, the category with the biggest increase of members. The most dramatic decrease of members was in the category of skilled manual workers. The long-term decrease in the proportion of agricultural workers continues. The differentiation between EGP classes is bigger and the income is not the only significant aspect. There is still a strong gender differentiation in social status; gender has a stronger impact on the amount of income than does EGP class. The answer to the second question is: members of the three EGP classes have different opinions on some of the basic economic issues and how to handle them. In addition, they also differ in how they deal with their own economic situation, and thus with an important part of their lives. It can be assumed that these classes (or at least some of them) may become real social classes.
Sociológia 2011, Vol. 43 (No. 5: 495-527)

The New Economic Sociology and the Structural Embeddednes of the Market. The main aim of this article is to present contemporary theoretical developments in economic sociology, especially an explanation of the structural context of the market. Since we have realized that current developments in economic sociology have not been fully reflected in Slovak sociology, we have adapted the structure of the text to this circumstance. The first part of article presents short characteristics of two economic theories because the current movement in economic sociology is built on their critical reflection: the first is neoclassical economical theory used in the analysis of noneconomic phenomena (family, crime, education) and the second is the new institutional economy (the efficiency of institutions). The criticism of sociologists has led to their interest in objects of economic discipline (markets and firms). Their goal was a “defense” of sociology through a sociological explanation of economic phenomena, and this idea is in the centre of the new economic sociology. The second part of the article presents the two main approaches of the new economic sociology: institutional embeddedness and network embeddedness. However, each of these approaches present just one part of the structural embeddednes of the market. The main challenge for economic sociology is to integrate their different conceptualizations of embeddedness. Therefore, in the third part of article, we present the integration potential of a field approach.
Sociológia 2011, Vol. 43 (No. 5: 528-549)

Right-Wing Extremism: Operationalization, Construction of the Scale and Results of Empirical Research. This article presents the results of research conducted as part of a project of the Czech Ministry of Interior. Its main objective was to explore the risk level of right-wing extremism in the Czech Republic. One of the project’s phases was a survey (n = 2056, population of people older than 15 years, probabilistic sampling). Through face-to-face interviews, we discovered that 2.5 % of inhabitants in the Czech Republic go along with the ideas of the ultra-right wing and are also willing to support radical political parties in elections. The percentage of people who support ideas typical for right-wing extremism and moreover are willing to publically support political parties which offer radical solutions (through participation in right-wing demonstrations, or by helping with the organization of their events) reaches 6 %. Our research shows that the main risk (from the point of view of the combat against right-wing extremism) represents the latter group.
The research also reveals that the sources of extremism are multiple and that this phenomenon encompasses macro-social as well as micro-social issues. From the macro-social point of view, it is possible to point to influences like unemployment, the level of education, the atmosphere in the society, the individual’s ability to integrate and reach his/her goals etc. In the micro-sociological frame of reference, it was found that extremism is influenced, for example, by satisfaction with family relationships, an ability for self-realization, material provision, and the extent of personal experience with minorities and foreigners. Some psychological and socio-psychological factors apply as well (e.g. temperament, stereotypes and prejudices).
Sociológia 2011, Vol. 43 (No. 5: 550-583)

The Content Analysis of the Journal Sociologický Sborník. A Contribution to the History of Czecho/Slovak Sociology. The following text sums up conclusions of the content analysis of the first Slovak sociological journal called Sociologický Sborník. The journal was published during a short period of time between the end of the Second World War and the rise of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1948. The content analysis of the journal focuses in particular on the authors and thematic structure in the context of the production of other contemporary sociological journals in Czechoslovakia. Performed analysis shows that Sociologický Sborník created a publication platform for a group of sociologists different from those who published in Czech journals. In addition, the journal became a crucial component in forming the group’s own sociological identity.
Sociológia 2011, Vol. 43 (No. 5: 584-603)